Overview
This document defines code values used in Alipay+ Services to enable the classification of Merchants into specific categories based on the type of business, trade, or services provided by the Merchant. This document also describes the update process for the creation, change and deletion of the Merchant Category Codes (MCC).
Normative references
ISO 18245 Retail financial services - Merchant category codes is referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content constitutes requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
Terms and definitions
Merchant Category Codes: The codes allocated in this document enable the classification of Merchants into specific categories based on their type of business, trade, or services.
For all other proper nouns (capitalized terms) used but not defined, refer to their respective definitions in Alipay+ Rules.
Conventions
In this document:
The key words “must” or “shall” or “need to” indicate a requirement which must be strictly followed and from which no deviation is permitted if conformance to this document is to be claimed.
The key word “should” indicates a requirement which is recommended but not absolutely required.
Merchant Category Codes
Merchant Category Code is a four-digit number that is assigned according to the business, services and products provided by a Merchant, which can be used to identify the classification of the Merchant. Based on MCC, Alipay+ and Partners can manage Merchants by categories for different purposes, such as risk control, transaction data, regulatory reports or trade pricing.
The Merchant Category Codes defined in Merchant Category Codes list conform to ISO 18245. Besides the codes already defined in ISO 18245 (as listed in Table A-1), Alipay+ also defines some codes which are reserved for private use in ISO 18245 (as listed in Table A-2) to meet Alipay+ business requirements. Alipay+ also supports the recognition of codes defined by other payment systems (as listed in Table A-3) to facilitate operability.
Acquiring Partners need to assess their Merchants and assign correct MCCs to the Merchants. Partners need to assess their Merchants and assign correct MCCs to the Merchants. If there is no appropriate code for a new Merchant or if some codes need to be modified or deleted, Partners can apply to Alipay+ for the creation, change or deletion of the MCC through the MCC update process.
Alipay+ may update the MCC list according to business needs. Alipay+ reserves the right to correct the improper assignment and use of the MCC.